Everyone wants to be able to walk into his or her kitchen and say “Wow”. If you are planning to remodel your kitchen and get a more modern look, marble countertops may be what you want. Due to their natural beauty and design, they have become more popular over the past several years.
The circular patterns in the stone add a natural beauty to your countertops. The one thing you need to realize is they are not cheap. However, the idea is to remodel and upgrade so you should really think of this as an addition to your home that will add value to it. The kitchen is one of the most important rooms in a home when it comes to resale value.
This is not to say that you want to sell your home. Your kitchen needs to be in top shape for you. After all, this is probably the most important room in your home. The meals are prepared here. Everyone gathers around the kitchen table to chat and enjoy each other’s company. It is also the room that you use to prepare those great holiday meals. So why not have it to your specifications so that you enjoy this room.
Marble countertops look luxurious and although one would think marble is virtually indestructible, that is just not true. It takes some work to maintain this natural stone to keep it looking as great as when it was installed. It does tend to soak up liquids and if you do not use coasters under your drinks, they will leave rings.
If you spill something on this countertop, it needs to be cleaned up immediately. Marble needs to be blotted rather than wiped when cleaning up anything that will soak in. This will pick up the liquid rather than distributing it for the stone to soak up.
It will burn if you are careless and put something hot down on it. Always use a pad underneath anything hot that you are sitting on the countertop even if it is just for a minute.
The marble is not scratch resistant so you will need to make sure you use a cutting board. When chopping vegetables or anything that might leave scratches or marks on any countertop it pays to use a mat however this is especially true for marble.
Everyday use can cause your countertop to dull. Soap scum, food, and drinks are tough on these countertops. If you do not want to constantly be on the alert for spills and food that may end up on this countertop, there are sealants that you can use. To help cut down on the tendency to soak up everything this may be worth the time and money. It may need to be done occasionally depending on the use of your countertop.
Never use abrasive or harsh cleaners on your marble countertop. This can ruin it and leave it dull. Good old soap and water is the best method for cleaning this countertop. When you are finished, make sure you dry it to avoid any of the remaining water from soaking in.
If a scratch or gouge unavoidably ends up in the middle of your countertop, you can hire a professional to come buff it out and reseal. This is not something you are going to want to do often as it can end up costing more to maintain than it is worth.
Kitchen Countertop Related Article
Glass Is Classy
As you were flipping through the latest issue of a home interior magazine, tell the truth, that glass kitchen countertop caught your eye, didn’t it? Did you stop for a minute to envision what a beautiful kitchen you could...
